New Ovarian Cancer Drug Now Available on NHS
A breakthrough drug for ovarian cancer that is gentler on the body and extends patients' lives is now accessible through the NHS.
The medication, mirvetuximab soravtansine, is described as a "biological missile" because it delivers chemotherapy directly to cancerous tissue rather than affecting the entire body, thereby reducing severe side effects.
Patricia Hill, 64, shared that this treatment has enabled her to engage in activities such as visiting family and attending the theatre, which were not possible with conventional chemotherapy.
Up to 400 patients annually in England could benefit from this new therapy, which is the first advancement for difficult-to-treat ovarian cancer in two decades.
Each year, nearly 7,750 cases of ovarian cancer are diagnosed in the UK.
Patricia, from north London, was diagnosed in 2023 and underwent multiple chemotherapy rounds before starting mirvetuximab in January of this year.
She described the difference as "night and day," stating the treatment has given her "a lot of my life back." She experienced less fatigue and nausea compared to standard chemotherapy, which made her feel "a lot better" and called the drug "a bit of a game changer."
The new drug has allowed her to attend West End shows, dine out, visit the Chelsea Flower Show, and travel to Ireland to see family.
"It actually opens up a lot of possibilities - you can actually go and do a lot more than you would normally do."
Mirvetuximab soravtansine also extends survival, increasing average life expectancy from 12.8 months with chemotherapy to 16.5 months with this therapy.
Importantly, it improves quality of life by causing fewer side effects, allowing women to retain their hair, and is administered via a drip every three weeks instead of weekly as with conventional chemotherapy.
How Does Mirvetuximab Soravtansine Work?
This drug is an advanced chemotherapy form that delivers a higher dose to cancer cells while minimizing side effects.
It consists of a potent chemotherapy agent linked to an antibody similar to those the immune system uses to combat infections.
These antibodies are engineered to recognize folate receptor alpha, a marker present on the surface of some ovarian cancer cells.
They bind to the cancer cells, are absorbed, and then release their toxic payload internally to kill the cancer.
This mechanism is why the therapy is also referred to as a "Trojan horse" treatment, alluding to the Greek myth.
Approximately 30-40% of chemotherapy-resistant cancers exhibit these markers.
Jenny Green, 71, from Hertfordshire, diagnosed in 2017, participated in clinical trials demonstrating the drug's efficacy.
"I seem to have tolerated it very well, with hardly any side effects at all. That's been amazing!
"I had a scan that showed my cancer nodules were shrinking, and my bloods were coming back into range - which is all pretty good to hear."
The drug has received approval from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) for use in ovarian, peritoneal, and fallopian tube cancers when chemotherapy is no longer effective and the tumors express the appropriate markers.
NHS England will fund the drug. Wales and Northern Ireland typically follow NHS England's decisions, while Scotland makes independent determinations.
Dr Rowan Miller, who led the clinical trials at University College London Hospitals (UCLH), expressed enthusiasm about the drug's NHS availability after a 20-year search for improved treatments.
"Finally, there's a drug that's available, that improves survival for this group of patients and in addition, the patients get on with the treatment well and find it easier to manage than standard chemotherapy," she said.
Expert and Charity Reactions
Professor Ruth Plummer, NHS national clinical lead for cancer drugs, described the drug as the "most significant breakthrough" in treating these challenging ovarian cancers in over two decades and said she was "delighted" it is now available on the NHS.
Victoria Clare, chief executive officer at Ovacome, the UK's ovarian cancer support charity, stated:
"This decision has the potential to make a real difference to those who are able to access this treatment. We are delighted."
Mirvetuximab soravtansine was developed by pharmaceutical company AbbVie.
Rachel Downing, head of policy and external affairs at Target Ovarian Cancer, called the drug's NHS availability "a hugely important moment" for women with platinum-resistant ovarian cancer and their families, who have faced limited effective treatment options for too long.
